Key punch



J. T. scHAAl-F 1,803,979

KEY PUNCH May 5,1931.

Filed Jan. 15, 1925 7 Sheets-sheet 1 May 5, 1931 J. T. SCHAAFF 1,803,979

KEY PUNCH Filed Jan. 15, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 5, m31- .1. T. Scl-{AAFF 1,803,979

KEY PUNCH Filed Jan. 15, 1925 7 sheets-sheet s May 5,1931.

J.T.SCHAAFF Filed Jan. l5l 1925 KEY PUNCH 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 A IW 5 "mm Snom/woz hmmm May 5, 1931. T. SCHAAFF 1,803,979

KEY PUNCH Filed Jan. 15, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 i 'mi May 5, 1931. J; T. SCHAAFF a,so3,979

` KEY PUNCH Filed Jan. l5l 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 3%* r @Ww s www May 5, 1931. J. T. scHAAFF KEY PUNCH Filed Jan. l5l 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented May 5A, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN T. SCELAAFF, OF .WASHINGTONQ DIS'LRICXI OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE TABU- LATING MACHINE COMPANY, F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY KEY PUNCH Application filed January 15, 1925. Serial No. 2,552.

This invention relates to card perforating machines for perforating data in record cards adapted for use in card-controlled tabulating machines. More specifically, the invention relates to perforating machines or punching machines as they are commonly termed, in which the actual work of punching the cards is done by electric power; the operator simply depressing a key to select the character to be perforated, and to cause the electric power mechanism to operate.

In my United States Patents No. 1,134,018, dated March 30, A1915, No. 1,300,491., dated April 15, 1919, and No. 1,426,223, dated August l5, 1922, I disclosed various forms of electric power punches in which the operator depresses a selecting key, and the actual work is done by electric power mechanism.

The principal objects of the present invention are to improve generally upon the punching machines disclosed in the aforesaid patents, by producing a machine more in conformity with machines now in use in this art, and in which the touch is lighter and the machine is relatively quiet in operation.

Another object is to provide means for preventing the card from becoming dislodged from operating position when the usual means provided for this purpose fails by reason of the card having been cut short.

Another object is to provide means whereby the angle at which the machine is supported on its base may be Varied to suit the operator. q

Other objects will appear in the detailed description of the invention which follows Broadly, the machine comprises a supportingbase having guide members foi` supporting and guiding a card which is being perforated; a feeding carriage tensioned to move laterally to feed a card; a row of punches across the path of the card; linger keys for selecting a punch for operation; an electromagnet for actuating a selected punch when a ke is depressed; and a connection from the keys to the carriage for releasing the same when a key is depressed so that the carriage may move laterally one step each time a key is depressed.

Referring to the drawingswherein I have shown what I now consider to be the preferred form of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3' is an enlarged sectional elevation of the right hand end of the machine, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the right hand end of the machine, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3, with the cover plate-removed and some parts shown in section to show the mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3, showing parts of the electrically actuated mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail of the key-actuated mechanism, and the electrically actuated mechanism controlled thereby.

Fig. 8 is a section taken. on line 8 8 of Fig. 2, showing means for indicating the position of the card being perforated.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 4, showing part of the card'carriage mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9, of the carriage mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a detail of the card carriage mechanism taken on line.11 11 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is a detail of carriage release mechanism; the view being taken substantially on line 12 12 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken on line 13 13 of Fig. 3, showing mechanism for preventing operation of more than one key at a time.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view of the right hand end of the machine, showing the adjustable support in normal position.

Fig. 15 is a more complete view of this end of the machine showing the support adjusted to tilt the machine forward.

Fig. 16 is a wiring diagram of the operating magnet.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a supporting base or main frame 1, the upper surface 1a of which is smooth and serves as a runway and support for the card 2*.(Fig. 2) that is being perforated.

One corner of the base may be recessed or inclined as at 3 (Figs. 1 and 2), for convenience to the ngers of the operator when inserting and removing cards. ,The supporting base is provided with a flange 4 on each side of the card supporting surface to act as guides for the card.

A card carriage is adapted to feed the card along the runway la. This carriage comprises a rack 10 having arms 8 and 7 attached thereto, reaching over the runway and depending into a groove 5 therein. These arms engage the opposite ends ofthe card to adjust and feed it along the runway. The rack 10 is mounted on a pair of trolley wheels 19, supported on a track' or rail 20 extending across the full length of the base 1 and iixed thereto. A housing 21 (see also Fig. 9) cooperates with the stud 21a on which the wheels 19 rotate, to prevent the rack from being lifted 0H the track. The arm 8 may be provided with a roller 12 bearing in groove 5. The lower edge of rack 10 is provided with gear teeth 30 4meshing with a gear 31 (Figs. 5 and 11) associated with a spring contained in a drum 32. The spring is not visible here, but this construction is well known and need not be shown in detail here. The spring tends to turn the gear 31 in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11, and thus tends to move the rack 10 to the right. Movement of the rack to the left serves to apply tension to the spring. The upper edge of rack 10 is provided with ratchet teeth 33, with which escapement vpawls 34, 35 cooperate. As viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the card carriage 8, including rack 10 is moved to the right by the operator pressing in that direction upon the tab 36 fixed to the carriage. The carriage may be moved its full distance to the right, so as to place the first column on the card in position to be perforated, or adjustment may be made whereby, when the carriage is moved to the right, it will be stopped so as to place some other column in position for perforating. To effect this adjustment, a ratchet bar 37 (Figs. 9 and 10) is fixed on the back of the basel 1. A ratchet stop 38 cooperates with said bar, being held in set position by a spring 39. By raising the stop 38 against the action of said spring, it may be demeshed from the bar 37 and may then be slid along said bar to the desired position. A stop member 40 fixed to the end of the carriage rack l() is adapted to engage the stop 38 to stop the movement of the carriage to the right and thereby tix the position of the card for the beginning of perforating operations.

en a card is placed in the machine, its right hand end is adapted to butt against the arm 7, under the projection 41 (Fig. 4). The left hand end of the card cooperates with the stop 6, being tucked under the projection 42. Projections 41 and 42 are not adapted to grip the card but act merely as holders to retain the card on the carriage. In order to prevent the card from working out from the projection 42 where the card is cut slightly short, I have provided a grip ping member 43 pivoted to the arm 8. A bell crank 44 also pivoted to arm 8 has pin and slot connection with member 43. When the card carriage is in its left hand position, the bell crank 44 engages a pin 45 in the base 1 (Fig. 1) and is turned counter-clockwise, turning member 43 clockwise to the position of Fig. 1 and releasing its grip from the card. After thc card has been placed in the machine and thc carriage moved to the right, awa-y from the pin 45, the bell crank 44 and member 43 return to normal positions with the end of member 43 reaching out over the card to hold it down.

The punches for perforating the cards are shown at 46 (Fig. 3), being disposed in alignment across the path of the card as shown in Fig. 4. The punches are supported in upper and lower guide frames 47, 48 and are adapted to cooperate with the die plate 49, ixedly attached to the base 1 of the machine. The upper end of each punch is round at 50 and flat at 51 (Fig. 3), the flat portion being disposed between the comb teeth 52 (see also Fig. 4), and the round portion acting as a shoulder tobutt against the comb under pressure of spring 53. Also disposed between the comb teeth 52 are slide members 54, there being one such member for each punch. The end of member 54 is in contact with the top of the punch, and its upper edge which is stepped back, is slightly out from under a cross actuating bar 56 integral with a plate 57 pivoted at 58 to the main frame, and held normally tilted in an upward position by a spring 59. The slide members 54 are adapted to be moved to the left so that their shoulders 55 will be disposed under the bar 56. Depression of bar 56 will then force the slide 54 downwardly, and this in turn, will force the punch 46 into the die 49, and thus perforate the card 2 disposed between-the guide member 48 and the die plate 49 (see Fig. 7). To depress the operating bar 56, the plate 57 is pivotally connected at 60 to aA link 61, Dwhich is connected to a bell crank 62 pivoted at 62 and connected by a link 63 to the armature 64 of an electro-magnet 65. Energization of the magnet will cause depression of the operating bar 56 to actuate the punch associated with the particular slide bar 54 that may have been advanced. These slide bars are adapted to be selectively moved to operative position by the keys 66. The keys are supported in upper and lower bearing plates 67, 68 fixed to frame 1. The key stem 69 has a groove 70 in which is lodged the rounded head of a bell crank 71 pivoted at 72. A pin 73 on the bell crank engages the slide 54 in a slot 74. A spring 75 attached at one end to the bell crank 71 and at the other to plate 68 serves to normally lrestore the bell crank 71 to its normal position as in Fig. 3, with the key 66 raised and the slide 54 in its right hand or inoperative position. While the left end of the slide 54 is disposed between the comb teeth 52 and on the top of the punch head 51, the right end thereof rests on a supporting bar 76, and between upright guide members 77 integral with bar 7 6, and is free to be raised and lowered the necessary degree at its left end. Depression of the key 66 rocks the bell crank 71 counter-clockwise and moves the slide 54 to the left to operative position. When the key is released the spring returns the parts to their normal positions. Across the lower edge of all of the slides 54 isa bail 78 pivoted at 79 and reaching into notches in the slides. Attached to the bail member 78 is a depending arm 81 held against a bracket 82 on link. 63 by a spring 83. This spring also tends to pull the arm 8l downwardly, rocking the bail 78 clockwise into engagement with the right hand shoulder of the slots 80 in the slides 54. The arm 81 has a shoulder 83 normally hooked under the contact leaf 84 of a pair of electric contacts (see also Fig. 16). When a key 66 is depressed to move one of the slides 54 to operative position, this slide rocks the bail 78 counter-clockwise, raising the arm 81 and causing contacts 85 to be closed. This causes energization of electro-magnet 65 as will be observed (Fig. 16), to operate the perforating devices. As the punch passes through the card and the link 63 moves to the right, the member 82 will push the arm 81 to the right so that the contact leaf 84 will he released and contacts 85 will open, de-energizing magnet 65, permitting the punch and its actuating mechanism to return to normal positions. The slide 54 returns when the key 66 is released, and permits bail 78 to turn clockwise to normal position, and arm 81 to be lowered so that its shoulder 83 will again snap under leaf 84 and be ready to close the contacts again when the next key is pressed. It will be recognized that when the contact leaf 84 is released, "contacts 85 cannot be closed again until the key 66 which effected their closing has been released and the next key depresslon effected.

Means are provided for preventing depression of more than one key at a time, or, from depressing another key before one which has already been depressed is restored. To this end, the right ends of the slides 54 are cut out as at 86, 87 (Fig. 7), leaving an intermediate upward projections 88. A plurality of fillets 89 (Figs. 4 and 13) are pivoted at 90 to the portions -7 7 of bar 76, and are so disposed that their enlarged heads cooperate with the forward slots 86 on the interposer slides 54 as seen in Fig. 4. l/Vhen one of the slides moves to the left to operative position, its projection 88 passes between the two adjacent llets and spreads them as in Fig. 13. The spreading movement is transmitted to the other fillets on either side, crowding them closely together so that another proj ection 88 cannot move forward to the left, and consequently another slide 54 cannot be actuated until the one previously actuated has been restored, and `only one slide can be in operative position at once. In order to reduce frictlon in the operation of the illets so as to minimize the power necessary to aetuate the keys, I have arranged the llets so that the force applied thereto by forward movement of the slides is away from their pivots 90. This produces less friction and requires less power` for operation than if the force were appliedito the fillets toward their pivots.

' After each key operation, and the punch is removed from the card, the card is adapted to move one step to the left to present the next column in position for punching. This is effected by the escapement pawls 34, 35. Each time one of the interposer slides 54 is depressed, it depresses a cross bar 92 (Fig. 6), rocking the rod 93. This lifts the pawl 34 (Fig. 11) out of ratchet teeth 33 and lowrers pawl 35 into said teeth. The spring 94 then moves pawl 34 slightly forward 'so that when the slide 54 is released to rise and the pawl 34 re-engages the teeth, it will engage slightly over the top of the tooth. At this time the pawl 35 disengages the rack and the latter moves under the influence of spring gear 31 until stopped by 'pawl 34. The details of this escapement mechanism form no part of the present invention, and will therefore, not be more fully described here.

In order that the operator may readily ascertain which lcolumn of the card is in position to be perforated, a sample 22 of the upper ortion of the card may be placed in the rame 23 (Figs. 2 and 9). This frame is supported by brackets 24 fixed to the'frame 1. The bar 95, fixed to brackets 24, carries a trolley wheel 96 at each end. A light endless cable 97 is mounted on these wheels and has attached thereto at 98, an index member 99 movably mounted on the guide rod 100 fixed to bar 95. An arm 101 fixed to arm 8 is also attached to the cable 97 by a screw 102 (Figs. 2, 4, 8 and 9). As the card carriage moves back and forth, it thus causes a corresponding movement of the index 99, and causes the index to point to the column on the index card 22 corresponding with the column on the card being perforated which is under the punches.

In order to release the card carriage from any position so that it may move all the way back to its normal position for the removal and insertion of cards, a release key 105 is provided. This key, as shown in Fig. 12, actuates a bell crank 106 against the action 'of a restoring spring 107, to move a rod 108 to the right. The cam portion 109 of this rod rides up on the sup ort-ing member 110 and raises a rod 111 un er the escapement pawl 34, lifting said pawl out of contact with the rack bar 10 without rocking pawl 35 into contact with said bar. This bar which is part of the carriage will be free to move back to normal position. Full details of this mechanism are not described here as they form no part of the present invention.

A spacing key may also be provided for releasing the carriage to move one space for each depression of the key. This key is designated 115 in Fig. 3, and is adapted through itsspring pressed bell crank 116, to move the interposer slide 117 to the left. The left end of this slide is cut away as seen in Fig.

3, and does not cooperate with any punch.-

It does, however, actuate the bail-7 8 to close contacts 85, causing depression of the bar 56 and slide ,54. This, in turn, causes depression of the member 92 and actuates the escapement pawls in the usual manner.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a lever 118 pivoted at 119 to the base 1 of the machine. This lever cooperates with the arm 81, and 'is adapted when turned clockwise, to move arm 81 to the right to release contacts 85.

Means are provided whereby the machine may be placed on a table for manipulation in a horizontal position, or may be tilted forward if preferred by the operator. For this purpose, an adjustable foot piece 120, (Figs. 14 and 15), having rubber tips 121 is 'pivotally attached to each end of the base 1 of the machine, as at 122, near the front of the machine. An arm 123 attached to the foot piece may be secured to the back of the base 1 at 124 as in Fig. 14 or as in Fig. 15 at 125. When secured in the latter position, the keyboard of the machine will be tilted forward as noted.

In Figs. 3 and 7 it will be seen that the armature 64I normally rests against a felt pad 130 mounted on a pivoted arm 131 held by a spring 132 against an adjusting screw 133. The latter is adapted to move the felt pad towards or away from the magnet in order to take up Wear on the felt pad and the adjusting means may also be utilized to vary the distance of the armature from the magnet to regulate the attraction of the latter upon the former.

Having` described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a. record perforating machine, a plurality of punches, means for actuating said punches, said means includingv an electromagnet and an armature therefor, a felt pad against which said armature normally rests,

and adjusting means for moving said felt said carriage after each operation of the pad relative to said magnet to take up wear on the pad.

2. In a card perforating machlne including perforating elements, a card carriage for carrying the card while it is being operated on by said perforating elements, means for retaining cards .in said carriage including a member adapted to project horizontally over the card, and means for automatically Withdrawing said member from over the card when the carriage is in a predetermined position.

3. In a record perforating machine, a base member, a record carriage movable relatively to said member, means for retaining a record Within said carriage while it is being perforated including a device adapted to project horizontally over the record and means on said base member to automatically withdraw said device from over the record when the carriage is in a predetermined position.

4. In a card perforating machine, a card carriage adapted to contain the cards while they are being perforated, means for retaining cards within said carriage including a movable gripping member engaging the card and a link pivoted to said gripping member, and means for automatically actuating said link to withdraw said gripping member from engagement with the card when the carriage is in predetermined position.

5. In a record perforating machine, record perforating means, a housing therefor, a base member supporting said housing, and means to adjustthe angle of said housing relative to the base member to suit the convenience of the operator.

6. In a record perforating machine, a plurality of punches, means for actuating said punches, said means including a magnet and a cooperating armature, a felt pad against which said armature normally rests, adjusting means for moving said pad to take up wear thereon, said adjusting means being also capable by moving said pad of adjusting said armature relative to said magnet.

7. In a card perforating machine ineluding perforating elements, a carriage-for feeding a card through said machine for punching, means for retaining a card on said carriage While the carriage is holding the card in cooperating relation with said perforating elements, said means including a member adapted to project laterally over the card, and means for automatically withdrawing said member from over the card when-the punching of said card is completed.

8. In a card perforating machine, a plurality of punches, a carriage for holding a record in cooperative relation to said punches, means for retaining a record on said carriage including a member adapted to project over the record, means for automatically eifecting a predetermined movement of punches, and means for automatically Withdrawing said member from over the record after a number of said movements of the carriage.

9. In a perforating machine, a plurality of punches, a card carriage for holding cards in cooperative relation to said punches, means for retaining a card on said carriage including a member adapted to project over the card, means for automatically feeding the card after operation of said punches, and means for automatically withdrawing said member from over said card at the completion of the feeding movement of said carriage.

10. In a card perforating machine, punching elements located in a punching section of the machine, a plurality of keys some of which are adapted to effect operation of said elements, means for feeding a card through said punching section for permitting the punching elements to perforate the card, said feeding'means including a member adapted to project over the card to prevent its accidental removal ,from the feeding means, means including said keys for effecting a step-by-step movement of said feeding means through the perforating section, and means operative only after the card has reached a predetermined position for withdrawing said member from over the card after the punching operation is completed.

11. In a card perforating machine, a card carriage, means for retaining cards within said carriage including a member adapted to normally project laterally over said cards,

.and means operative onlv for withdrawing said member from over the cards when the carriage is in a predetermined position, said member returning automatically to pro]ect ing position over said card when said latter` means has completed its function.

12. In a card perforating` machine, a card carriage, means for retaining cards within said carriage including a member adapted to normally project' laterally over the card on the carriage, and means extraneous to said member for engaging said member to withdraw it from over the card, said member returning to projecting position over said card as soon as disengaged from said latter means.

13. In a machine for operating upon cards, a device for feeding a card through the machine, said device including a member provided with a cam surface for engaging the card to hold it down and movable under the pull of the card away from said surface in a direction to increase its gripping force, and means for rocking said member to disengage said surface from the card.

14. In a machine for operating upon cards, a device for feeding a card through the machine, said device including a member provided with a cam surface for engaging said card to hold it down, a bell crank pivoted to said member, and means for actuating said bell crank to release the cam surface from the card.

15. In a record perforating machine, record perforating means, a keyboard for select,- ing said means, a housing carrying said mea-ns and keyboard, and means for adjust.

keyboard, a base to which said frame is pivoted, and al link extending between said base and frame for releasably holding the frame at an angle relative to the base whereby the operator may operate the keyboard at a convenient angle.

17. In a perforating machine, punches, a card carriage, means for retaining a card within said carriage while it is being perforated by said punches, means for automatically feeding the card after a punching operation, and means operative only at the end of a feeding operation for releasing said retaining means from the card.

18. In a record operating machine, record operating means and means for feeding a card through the record operating means, said feeding means including a gripping device provided with camming means efective under the pull of the card away from the gripping device to increase its gripping force on the card, and means for releasing said gripping device from the card.

19. A machine comprising a record oper.

ating means and means for feeding a record to said operating means, Said feeding means including a pivoted gripping member having a surface eccentric to the axis of movement of said member for engaging the card, the card when pulling away from said surface moving it in a direction to bring the portion of greater 'radius in engagement with the card, and means for moving the member in the opposite direction to release the card.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

JOHN T. SCHAAFF. 

